Outcome of my salon entries – Month of February 2014

The second month of 2014 and some interesting salon results. February was one of my better months with salon results especially in the international salons for example I was in overall 8th place in the German International DVF Photocup circuit. And luck is still with me – not one salon with a zero acceptance rate this month. But let’s look at the month of February 2014 and my salon results:

Comments:Brown hyena landscape received its first acceptance. I was not very positive about this image – I thought it was not really a salon type of image. Surprise, surprise!

Brown hyena landscape

Near Kamqua water hole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

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2. 1st Tepantar International Salon 2014 (India):

Photos entered: 4 photos in the Nature section.

Acceptance: 4 acceptances (100% acceptance rate)

Comments: My first 100% acceptance rate for February 2014. Bone struggle received its first acceptance as well as its first COM award. A little bit of a busy background but I loved the interaction between the two spotted hyenas and the expression on their faces.

Comments:Bone struggle as posted above received its second acceptance and COM in just its second salon. The judges must really like the interaction between the hyenas. On my back received its first acceptance in its first salon. I was a bit worried about the type of cropping used in this image but… Unfortunately the image did not receive an acceptance in its second salon entry – more critical judges looking for technical correct images rather than the story telling elements? Just me thinking out loud.

Comments: None of my images entered in the Open section received an acceptance – all three acceptances were in the Nature section. Goshawk half circle received its first acceptance in its first salon entry – I am awaiting its second salon entry result.

Goshawk half circle

Laikipia, Kenya

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5. 2nd Digifocus International Digital salon 2014 (India)

Photos entered: 4 photos in the Nature section.

Acceptance: 4 acceptances (100% acceptance rate)

Comments: My second 100% acceptance rate for February 2014. Hyena take away 1 received its first acceptance in its first salon entry. It also received an acceptance in the AFO National Digital salon in South Africa (last salon report in this post).

Hyena take away 1

Kruger National Park, South Africa

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6. 1st DPW Grand Exhibition 2014 (Serbia)

Photos entered: 4 photos each in the Nature, Wildlife, Birds, People & Sport and Open sections = 24 entries.

Acceptance: 8 acceptances (33% acceptance rate)

Comments: I did not do well on the odd sections (remember my primary focus is on Nature/Wildlife section) – 1 acceptance each in People and Sport section. However, 3 acceptances each in the Wildlife and Bird sections make me feel much better. Zebra bite received its first acceptance in its first salon entry. The light was great when I took this image but once again, I was not satisfied with the cropping. But such is Nature – it not always possible to get the perfect shot.

Zebra bite

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

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7. 1st Queensland International Digital Circuit 2014 (Australia)

This was a 4 salon circuit.

Photos entered: 4 photos each in the Nature section = 16 entries.

Acceptance: 1 Medal, 2 COM & 10 acceptances (82% acceptance rate)

Comments: My first international medal for February with Wild dog puppy kill 1 in one of the salons – see the image under the last salon report. It also received a COM in another salon in this circuit. Gull dropping fish was the other image to receive a COM award in one of the salons.

Gull dropping fish

Chobe River, Botswana

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8. 49th Oklahoma International Exhibition of photography 2014 (USA)

Photos entered: 4 photos in the Nature section.

Acceptance: 4 acceptances (100% acceptance rate)

Comments: My third 100% acceptance rate for February 2014 with 1 COM. I decided for this salon to re-visit a few of my “older” (images with already 3 acceptances in place) images and re-entered them. Grey-headed gull with fish was the image to receive the COM.

Grey-headed gull with fish

Chobe River, Botswana

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9. German International DVF Photocup 2014 (England)

This was a 3 salon circuit.

Photos entered: 4 photos each in the Nature section = 12 entries.

Acceptance: 1 Medal, 2 COM & 7 acceptances (83% acceptance rate)

Comments: I do have a soft spot for this circuit because I’ve won my first ever medal in a salon in this circuit back in February 2012 (3 months after my first ever salon entry). I’ve decided to enter two “older” and two new images in this circuit with fairly good results. My second international medal for February with The Vulture and the Jackal 2 which also received one of the 2 COM awards. I was also rated as the 8th best individual entry overall in this salon.

The Vulture and the Jackal 2

Giants Castle, Drakensberg, South Africa

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B. National Salons

1. 1st CPS Small Clubs Triangular Circuit 2014 (South Africa)

This was a 3 salon circuit with international judges in one of the three salons.

Photos entered: 4 photos each in the Nature, Monochrome, Landscapes and Open sections = 48 entries.

Comments: Like I’ve mentioned before – I am not a monochrome image fan. Maybe because I do struggle to get the right balance between the amount of black en white in each photo. Not an easy task to develop such images perfectly. Therefore I am satisfied with my 1 COM award for Aggressive 800m start.

Comments:Wild dog puppy kill 1 received its second medal in a salon in its third salon entry. Interesting to note is it the fact that this image did not even receive an acceptance in its first salon entered. So I was a bit hesitant to enter this image in another salon because of its initial failure. It was a very difficult shot to get because of the low light conditions (just after sunrise) and thick bushes resulting in the fact that quick reactions were needed. Also, the post-processing was equally difficult especially because I had to shoot at a very high ISO level in order to get the necessary shutter speed (to freeze the movements of the puppy).

Wild dog puppy kill 1

Laikipia, Kenya

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Message to take home:

Looking at the last image posted – that of the wild dog puppy with the head and skin left of a Dik-dik antelope – I’ve just realised how lucky I was to get the shot. The two key aspects that are closely related to get great wildlife photos like the wild dog puppy are: (a) Be prepared to get that shot. I’ve decided long before the puppy made its move that I do need a relatively high shutter speed. I’ve also realised that it was a low-light situation. So I was prepared by adjusting my ISO according and well before the puppy showed itself. If you see the action happening and it is not through the camera, you are too late. There is no time to adjust the settings on the camera while the action is happening. Secondly (b) Anticipation – know your subject (its behaviour). We saw the puppies through the thick bushes playing with the kill and we know they will come through a specific area to join the rest of the group. So I prepared myself (and my camera) while we were waiting for the puppies to show themselves.

Just think about it when you are waiting for your next wildlife shoot – are you properly prepared for the action and do you know what to expect from your subject?

Until the next month, be prepared and know what to expect before keep on shooting!!!